Bill would let Nevada Tahoe businesses form improvement districts for transit, cleanup and local projects; residents raise concerns about governance and costs
April 05, 2025 | 2025 Legislature NV, Nevada
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Sen. Skip Daly presented Senate Bill 420, a bill requested through the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) interim process that would authorize the formation of business improvement districts (BIDs) on the Nevada side of the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Proponents said the districts would be formed only if local businesses petition and approve them, and that counties would retain oversight. Andrew Chapman, president and CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada, said a BID could fund transit, cleaner streets and community events and would be voluntary and locally controlled: "Senate Bill 420 will create the ability for local businesses within the Nevada portion of the Tahoe Basin to petition the relevant county to create a business improvement district," Chapman said.
Multiple business owners and tourism organizations testified in support, citing microtransit programs such as TART Connect (which supporters said has provided nearly 400,000 rides on the North Shore) and the need to reduce private vehicle trips, improve employee transportation and fund local cleanup.
Opponents — including residents and community groups — warned that the districts could act as a de facto tax on patrons and locals who visit or use businesses in the district. Several callers and in-person speakers asserted they had not been consulted, criticized TRPA and said the measure risked reduced transparency and accountability for how funds would be spent. Critics emphasized local infrastructure and safety concerns (evacuation risk during wildfires) and asked for tighter caps, clearer reporting, and voter approval mechanisms.
Sponsor Daly and proponents said the BID is a tool local businesses can opt into and that the county — not TRPA — would approve and oversee any district; they also agreed to continue refining the bill language to clarify reporting, limits on administrative costs and the role of assessments.
The committee took testimony from tourism authorities, business owners, conservation groups and residents, and closed the hearing with no committee vote recorded.
Proponents said the districts would be formed only if local businesses petition and approve them, and that counties would retain oversight. Andrew Chapman, president and CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada, said a BID could fund transit, cleaner streets and community events and would be voluntary and locally controlled: "Senate Bill 420 will create the ability for local businesses within the Nevada portion of the Tahoe Basin to petition the relevant county to create a business improvement district," Chapman said.
Multiple business owners and tourism organizations testified in support, citing microtransit programs such as TART Connect (which supporters said has provided nearly 400,000 rides on the North Shore) and the need to reduce private vehicle trips, improve employee transportation and fund local cleanup.
Opponents — including residents and community groups — warned that the districts could act as a de facto tax on patrons and locals who visit or use businesses in the district. Several callers and in-person speakers asserted they had not been consulted, criticized TRPA and said the measure risked reduced transparency and accountability for how funds would be spent. Critics emphasized local infrastructure and safety concerns (evacuation risk during wildfires) and asked for tighter caps, clearer reporting, and voter approval mechanisms.
Sponsor Daly and proponents said the BID is a tool local businesses can opt into and that the county — not TRPA — would approve and oversee any district; they also agreed to continue refining the bill language to clarify reporting, limits on administrative costs and the role of assessments.
The committee took testimony from tourism authorities, business owners, conservation groups and residents, and closed the hearing with no committee vote recorded.
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